Radio time switch and automatic tuner



Feb. 5 1935. V c, N EL ETA 1,990,342

RADIO TIME SWITCH AN]? AUTOMATIC TUNER Filed March 10, 1932 5Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS CHARLES MONGELLI BY CESAREMONGELL/ 1935- c.MONGELLI ET AL RADIO TIME SWITCH AND AUTOMATIC TUNER Filed March 10,1952 S Sheets-$heet 2 IN VENTORS CHARLES MONGELL/ BY CESAREMONGE'LLIATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1935. Q MQNGELLI ET AL 1,990,342

RADIO TIME SWITCH AND AUTOEEIAZYC TUNER Filed March 10, 1932 3SheetsSheet 3 INVENTORS T CHARLES MONGLLLI lg- CESAREMONGELL/ ATTORNEYPatented F ch. 5, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Cesare Mongelli andCharles Mongelli,

, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 10, 1932, Serial No. 598,000

4C'laims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a radio timeswitch and automatic tuner.

The invention has for an object the construction of a radio time switchwhich is characterized by the ability of being capable of turning on aradio set at a pre-determined time and thereafter of turning off theradio set on another pro-determined time.

Another object of this invention is the construction of a radio timeswitch which is capable of turning off a radio set at a pre-determinedtime and at the subsequent pre-determined time to turn on the radio set.

As a still further object this invention proposes the construction of aradio time switch which is capable of either turning on" or only turningoff the radio set.

The invention has for a still further object 20 the construction of adevice which is characterized by the ability of being capable of turningthe radio set off" at a pre-determined time and simultaneously changingthe station which is being received by the set to another pre-deter- 25mined station and thereafter turning the radio set on'f at the newly setstation at the predetermined time.

The invention has for a still further object the construction of theradio time switch in a manner so that it is capable of operatingaccording to various variations and sequences hereinafter more fullydescribed.

It is a still further object of this invention to construct a device ofthe class described which is of simple durable construction, dependablein use and eflicient in operation and which can be manufactured and soldat a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings,.and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of thisdisclosure:-

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a time clock Fig. 4 is a sectionalview taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a portion of the inside of theclock seen as though 1 ing in the direction of the line 5-5 of Fig. 8.Fig. 6 is a plan view of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of a portion of a catch which holds the time controlled switch inan open position.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of a portion of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of another portion ofFig. 6.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a switch which controls the re-settingof the radio set, shown in greater detail in Fig. 13. i

Fig. 11 is a front elevational view of a radio panel equipped with thetime switch shown'in Fi 1.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the radio set seen asthough taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a. sectional view taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a schematic wiringdiagram of the device.

The radio time switch, according to this invention, comprises a clock10, a pair of switches 11 and 12 associated with the clock and adaptedto be selectively closed and opened respectively at pre-determined timeby the operation of the clock and hereinafter known respectively as anon switch and an off switch. A radio control circuit 13 includes a radioon switch 14. An off and on or only on circuit 15 including said onswitch 11 and off" switch 12 is shunted across the radio circuit 13 andis connected with a double throw double pole single pole switch 16. An"on and off or only off circuit 17 includes the "off switch 12 and the"on switch 11 and is shunted across the radio circuit 13 and isconnected with the switch 16. These circuits will be explained infurther detail hereinafter.

The clock 10 may be any conventional type of clock. As shown in thedrawings, it comprises an electric clock having a frame 21 supportingthe various parts thereof. More particularly, a motor 22 is connectedwith drive wheel 23 in mesh with the minute hand-gear 24. A pinion gear25 is coaxially fixed upon the minute gear 24 and meshes with an idler26 carrying a pinion 27 in mesh with the hour gear 28. A conventionalhour hand 29 is connected with the hour gear and a minute hand 30 withthe minute gear 24. 50.

The hands 29 and 30 work across the face of a clock dial 31. The clockmay be set by a knob 32 which extends through the back of the clock andwhich is connected with a pinion 33 meshing with the idler 26. The clockalso includes a coil 34 which is shunted across the supply of current tothe radio circuit 13. The details of the operation of the clock will notbe gone into since anyone familiar with the art will recognize anunderstand the operation thereof.

The association of the clock 10 with the on" and "on" switches 11 and 12respectively, consists in the provision of a pinion 35 meshing with thehour gear 28 and in mesh with a pair of gears 36, 37. The gears 36 and37 are loose upon setting stems 38 and 39 respectively. These stems areformed with heads on their rear ends and project from the rear of theclock. Each of the stems has a transverse pin 48 adapted to engage inrecesses 41 in the hubs of the gears 36 and 37 respectively so as toallow the gears to move longitudinally relative to the pins 40. Springcatch arms 42 and 43 are respectively mounted upon a support element 44attached upon the frame 21 of the clock and spring 43 is insulated fromthe support element 54. These spring members 42 and 43 are against thehubs of the gear 36 and the insulated hub 37 of gear 37 and normallytend to urge the gears against the pins 41. Each of the spring members42 and 43 have their ends 45 turned at right angles and adapted toengage fingers 46 stamped from control levers 47 and 48 respectivelyfor'the operation of the on and "o switches. The fingers 46 have one oftheir sides straight and the other curved so that the levers 47 and 48may be moved outwards and during such motion the curved portions of thefingers 46 ride beneath the turned 51 in the front of the clock so thatthe levers may be set from the exterior of the clock.

Springs 52 act between the levers 47 and 48 and the frame 21 to normallyurge the levers together. The 0 switch 12 consists of the.

lever 48 and its, action with the spring element 43. It is at thesepoints that the circuit is broken I when the lever 48 moves oil from itscontact with the spring element. The on switch 11 con-v stitutes thelever 47 which carries the extension 60 and the connection between theextension 60 and the insulated stationary contact 61. It should berecognized that the stems 38 and 39 may be turned to pre-determinedpositionsclock and work across dials 64 and 63 which are respectivelymarked "on andofl to indicate the setting when the "on or the "011switch will close. When the gears 36 and 37, rotated by the clockmechanism, reach positions in which the recesses 41 engage the pins 40,then the springs 42 and 43 move the gears 36 and 37 longitudinally andthe ends 45 release the levers 47 and 48 so that the springs 52 move thelevers.

The radio circuit 13 includes a plug 66 which is adapted to be connectedwith a radio set to control the operation of the set. Such connection isgenerally known and will not be necessary to 71 from the pole 70. Thepurpose of switch 14 is to close the circuit of the radio set when theswitch is thrown to the "To Radio Set" position, regardless of thesetting of the time switch. when the switch is thrown in the To Clockposition, the switch is open and the radio set is controlled by thesetting of the time switch.

The re-setting switch 18 comprises a lever 78 which is pivotally mountedat its bottom end 79 and is urged in one direction by a spring 80. The

top of this lever extends through a'slot 81 in the. panel board of theradio set and is there equipped with a knob 82 so that the lever may bemoved from the outside. The lever 78 is provided with a projectingtongue 83 adapted to pass in one direction but be held from moving inthe other direction against a spring member 84 which is mounted upon theback of the panel of the set. The lead 57 is connected with an insulatedstationary contact 85 from which a flexible lead 86 extends to a contactfinger 87 mounted upon the lever 78, and is insulated therefrom. In thecaught position of the lever 78 the finger 87 en gages with an insulatedstationary contact 88 from which a lead 89 extends to the motor 19. Themotor 19 is connected with a gear system 90 terminating in a gear 91upon the shaft 92 of the control dial 93 of the radio set. As this dialis turned the condensers 94 of the set accom plish tuning. The detailsof this arrangement will not be shown since it forms no part of theinvention.

A pinion 95 connects the gear 91 with another gear 96 free upon a shaft97. The latter is held frictionally from rotation by a spring 97' whenthe gear 96 turns. The shaft 97 extends through the panel of the set andcarries a second disc98 which may be read through an opening in thefront of the panel. The hub of the gear 96 is provided with a recess 99adapted to engage a pin 100 upon the spindle 97. The spring arm 84normally acts against the gear 96 to urge it against the pin 100 uponthe spindle 97. A control for turning the disc 98 is provided andcomprises a gearsystem 101 which terminates in a knob 102 upon a controlstem 103. The arrangement allows the knob 102 to be turned for turningthe shaft 97 and the dial 98 so that it may be set to a stationsubsequently. As the dial '98 turns the spindle 97 is correspondinglymoved and the location of the pin 100 is changed relative to a cutout 99in the hub of the gear 96. If the pin 100 moves out from the cutout 99,the gear 96 is forced forwards and moves the spring arm 84 to engage thelever 78 so that the lever 78 is held with the contacts 87 and 88 closedif manually moved against the action of spring 80.

The operation of the device may best be traced by first assuming theswitch 16 to be thrown so as to connect the poles 70 and 74, and thepoles 77 and 68, that is, so that the switch handle indicates the "offand on or on only position shown in Fig. 2. The levers 47 and48 mustnext be moved by the knobs 49 and 50 to set the on" and "oil"switches'll and 12. Then the time control may be set so that the hands63 point to the hours when it is desired to have the radio set turnedoil then on or on only. For example the current may be traced from thelead 71 to the pole 70, the pole 74, along lead. 73, to the ground 59.Then the current continues to the grounded lever 48, the switch 12across to the spring catch 43, the lead 53 to the pole 75 through shuntconnection. 20 to the pole 77 then across to the pole as along lead 67through the radio plug so. It is readily seen that when the "ofl time isreached the lever 48 will be released so that the 011" switch 12operates and breaks the circuit through the radio set. Some time after,as pre-determined by the-setting of the on" switch, the lever 47 will bereleased so that the on" switch 11 functions and the circuit then isclosed from the ground 59 through the lever 47, the extension 60,

contact 61, lead 62, pole 68, lead 67 and the radio plug 66. Thus theradio set now is functioning. If it were previously desired turn theradio set on at a certain time only the switch 12 should have been leftoff and only the switch 11 moved to its set position. Consequently, whenthe proper time arrives the lever 47 will be released for turning theradio set on.

When the switch 16 is thrown in the other direction, that is, to closethe circuit between poles 70 and 75, in other words to operate theswitch 16 in the direction of the notations on and off shown in Fig. 2,the time switch is now in condition to function to turn the set on andoff or only ofi. For example, the current may be traced from lead 71across to the pole '75, lead 73, spring contact 43, the switch 12, theground,

the lever 47, the switch 11, the extension 60, the contact 61, the lead62, the pole 68, the lead 67 and the radio plug 66. Consequently, whenthe on" switch operates this circuit will be closed and the radio setwill be on. Thereafter, when the off switch 12 operates the circuit willbe broken at the 0115" switch and the radio set will cease to function.If so desired, only the off switch 12 could have been set to itsoperating position so that the radio set is on continuously and turnedoff at a pre-determined time when the "oif switch 12 breaks the circuit.

There is another setting, namely, to cause the time switch to turn theradio set off at a predetermined time, reset the radio to a newpredetermined station and at another pre-determined time to turn it onso that the new station functions. To do this the switch 18 is closedand the dial 98 set to the new station; Consequently, should the motor19 operate and turn the radio control 93 until the new station isreached, the rotation will be transmitted to the gear 96 and the pin 100will allow the spring 84 to move the gear at the new setting and thusbreak the circuit at the switch 18. Now then, the current may be tracedstarting at the lead '71 to the pole 70, the pole 74, the lead 73, theground 59, the grounded lever 48, the switch 12, the contact spring 43,lead 53, pole 75, lead 20, pole 77, pole 68, lead 67 and radio plug 66.At the predetermined time the "off switch 12 breaks the circuit to turnthe radio set off. As the off switch 12 breaks the circuit a new circuitis closed through the extension 55 and the stationary contact 56. Acurrent then may flow which may be traced from the ground 59 to thelever 48, the extension 55, the contact 56, lead 57, contact 65, lead86, extension 87, contact 88, lead 89, the motor 19, and lead '16 whichconcludes the circuit. The motor 19 then functions and causes turning ofgears 91 and 96. As the gear 91 turns the station of t e being changedand when 113:, ion is reached the gear 95 y the recess 99 switch thecircuit is then closed through the radio set and may be traced from theground 59 to the lever 47 through the on switch 12, the extension 60,the contact 61, lead 62, pole 68, lead 67, and the radio plug 66.

While we have shown and described the preferred. embodiment of ourinvention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A radio time switch comprising a body, a pair of shafts turnablymounted on said body and provided with radial pins, a gear free on eachshaft and having hubs with recesses for said pins and meshing with aclock driven gear, spring arms urging said gears against said pins andhaving ends moved forward when said shafts are turned to force said,pins out from said recesses, pair of movable levers'mounted on said bodyand urged into neutral positions and manually movable to positionsengaged on said ends in the forward positions of said ends, a switchcomprising one of said levers and its contractable spring arm andhereafter called an off switch, a switch comprising engaging contacts onsaid body and on said other lever in its neutral position andhereinafter called an on switch, a power circuit of a radio receiver, adouble pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said ofi switch inseries with saidpower circuit in one position of said double pole doublethrow switch, a circuit connecting said on switch in series with saidpower circuit in the other position of said double throw switch, anotherswitch comprising engaging contacts on said body and said lever of theoif switch in its neutral position and hereinafter called a master"switch, tuning mechanism operated with a motor, a turnable shaftprovided with a radial pin, a gear free on said shaft and having a hubwith a'recess for said pin and meshing with a pinion driven by saidtuning mechanism, a spring arm urging said gear against said pin andhaving an end moved forward when said shaft is turned to force said pinout from said recess, a movable lever urged into a neutral position andmanually movable to a position engaging on said end in the forwardposition of said end, a switch comprising engaging contacts on saidlever and a stationary element in the moved position of said lever andhereinafter called a resetting switch, and a circuit shunted across saidoff switch circuits and the said power circuit and including series said.master switch, the resetting and said motor.

2. A radio switch ca pair of shafts mo" and provided with r l on saidbody gear tree on pins an o switch, a switch comprising engagingcontacts on said 'body and on said other lever in its neutral positionand hereinafter called an "on" switch, a power circuit of a radioreceiver, a double pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said"011 switch in series with said power circuit in one position of saiddouble pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting saidon" switch inseries with said power circuit in the other position of said doublethrow switch, another switch comprising engaging contacts on said bodyand said lever of the "of!" switch in its neutral position andhereinafter called a "master switch, tuning mechanism operated with amotor, a turnable shaft provided with a radial pin, a gear free on saidshaft and having a hub with a recess for said Pin and meshing with apinion driven by said tuning mechanism, a spring arm urging said gearagainst said pin and having an end moved forward when said shaft isturned to force said pin out from said recess, a movable lever urgedinto a neutral position and manually movable to a position engaging onsaid end in the forward position of said end, a switch comprisingengaging contacts on said lever and a stationary element in the movedposition of said lever and hereinafter called a resetting switch, and acircuit shunted across said oif" switch circuits and the said powercircuit and including in series said -master" switch, the "resettingswitch and said motor, all of said movable levers being pivotallymounted.

3. A radio time switch comprising a body, a pair of shafts turnablymounted onsaid body and provided with radial pins, a gear free on eachshaft and having hubs with recesses for said pins and meshing with aclock driven gear, spring arms urging said gears against said pins andhaving ends moved forward whensaid shafts are ,turned to force said pinsout from said recesses, a pair of movable levers mounted on said bodyand urged into neutral positions and manually movable to positionsengaged on said ends in the forward positions of said ends, a switchcomprising one of said levers and its contractable spring arm andhereafter called an off switch, a switch comprising engaging contacts onsaid body and on said other lever in its neutral position andhereinafter called an on" switch, a power circuit of a radio receiver, adouble pole double throw switch, a circuit connecting said 0 switch inseries with said power circuit in one .position of said double poledouble throw switch, a circuit connecting said on" switch in series withsaid power circuit in the other position of said double throw switch,another switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and said leverof the ofl switch in its neutral position and hereinafter called amaster" switch, tuning mechanism operated with a motor, a turnable shaftprovided with a radial pin, a gear free on said shaft and having ahubwith a recess for said pin and meshing with a pinion driven by saidtuning mechanism, a. spring arm urging said gear against said pin andhaving an end moved forward when said shaft is turned to force said pinout from said recess, a movable lever urged into a neutral position andmanually movable to a position engaging on said end in the forwardposition of said end, a switch comprising engaging contacts onsaid'lever and a stationary element in the moved position of said leverand hereinafter called a "resetting switch, and a circuit shunted acrosssaid off switch circuits and the said power circuit and including inseries said master switch, the

resetting switch and said motor, springs being having ends movedforwards when said shafts are turned to force said pins out from saidrecesses, pair of movable levers mounted on said body and urged intoneutral positions and manually movable to positions engaged on said endsin the forward positions'of saidends, a switch comprising one of saidlevers and its contractable spring arm and-hereafter called an o switch,

a switch comprising engaging contacts on said body and on said otherlever in its neu position and hereinafter called an on switch, a powercircuit of a radio receiver, a double pole double throw switch, acircuit connecting said off switch in series with said power circuit inone position of said double pole double throw switch,

a circuit connecting said "on" switch in series with said power circuitin the other pomtion of said double throw switch, another switchcomprising engaging contacts on said body and said lever of the ,oifswitch in its neutral position and hereinafter called a "master switch,tuning mechanism operated with a motor, a tumable shaft provided with aradial pin, a gear free on said shaft and having a hub with a recess forsaid pin and meshing with a pinion driven by said tuning mechanism, aspring arm urging said gear against said pin and having an end movedforward when said shaft is turned to force said pin out from saidrecess, a movable lever urged into a neutral position and manuallymovable to a position engaging on said end in the forward position ofsaid end, a switch comprising engaging contacts on said lever and astationary element in the moved position of said lever and hereinaftercalled a resetting switch, and a circuit shunted across said ofi switchcircuits and the said power circuit and including in series said masterswitch, the "resetting" switch and said motor, indicators beingassociated with said shafts.

